ORLEN and the Port of Gdynia Authority have signed an agreement to explore the use of LNG and bio-LNG as marine vessel fuels. The partnership will assess potential market demand for LNG and bio-LNG bunkering services, and infrastructure solutions that would increase the availability of alternative marine fuels along the Polish coast.
ORLEN’s co-operation with the Port of Gdynia will cover an assessment of market demand, the potential for LNG and bio-LNG bunkering, as well as the necessary infrastructure, operational conditions, and regulatory requirements needed to develop such services. One of the key areas under review will be the feasibility of waterside bunkering, including ship-to-ship operations, where fuel is transferred directly from a bunker vessel to a ship in port.
“Our expanded co-operation with the Port of Gdynia marks an important step in developing the LNG and bio-LNG market in the Tricity area and forms part of a wider transformation of ORLEN’s fuel portfolio through 2035. Under the ORLEN Group’s strategy, gas, including LNG, will play a strategic role as a transitional fuel supporting energy security and the decarbonisation of transport. Our ambition is to build competitive strengths across the entire value chain – from supply and logistics through to end use. In parallel, we are developing capabilities in renewable fuels, including bio-LNG, which could become one of the key pathways to lower emissions in heavy-duty road and maritime transport over the coming years. We want ORLEN to be more than a fuel supplier to ports. We aim to be a partner in their transition, making a genuine contribution to the development of infrastructure and market conditions needed for alternative marine fuels to grow in Poland and the wider region,” said Robert Soszynski, Vice President of the ORLEN Management Board, Operations.
“Energy transition in the shipping industry is already under way. Shipowners are looking for solutions that could reduce emissions, while ports need to be ready to accommodate vessels using a range of fuels and technologies. We want the Port of Gdynia to be prepared for what the future may bring, because no one can say with certainty which solutions will matter most 10 or 20 years from now. This is why we’re developing the port to respond to the changing needs of vessels and support reductions in emissions from maritime transport. Our cooperation with ORLEN on LNG and bio-LNG bunkering is one of the steps in that direction,” added Piotr Gorzenski, CEO of the Port of Gdynia Authority.
The scope of the partnership includes knowledge sharing, assessment of the needs of shipowners and port users – particularly the operators of scheduled ferry, container, and Ro-Ro services – evaluation of potential bunkering models, and a review of solutions used at other European ports. The parties will examine, among other options, the potential for ship-to-ship bunkering, its suitability for larger vessels, and the feasibility of bunkering while a vessel is alongside, also in parallel with cargo handling operations. The objective is to develop solutions tailored to market needs, while ensuring compliance with the safety requirements, minimising disruption to vessel traffic, ensuring berth availability, maintaining operational efficiency, and safeguarding the continuity of terminal operations.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of a changing regulatory environment for shipping. The FuelEU Maritime framework has been in force since 2025, progressively tightening requirements for the greenhouse gas intensity of energy used on board ships. As a result, shipowners and ports are preparing for a market in which a range of fuels and technologies will develop in parallel – from LNG and bio-LNG to methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. Through co-operation with partners along the Polish coast, ORLEN is reinforcing its position as a partner for the energy transition in transport and logistics. The company is expanding its capabilities in alternative fuels and continues to explore new applications for LNG and bio-LNG in response to evolving customer needs and developments across the European transport market.
The initiatives pursued jointly with the Port of Gdynia are of a long-term nature and play an important role in laying the foundations for an alternative marine fuels ecosystem in Poland.